“Kishida, the prevailing opinion is that we need to respond domestically.”
“The trip is already being adjusted… Cancellation is a loss to ‘Kishida diplomacy’”
The influence of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s ‘slush fund suspicions’ is spreading to diplomacy. The Mainichi Shimbun reported on the 12th that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, is considering shelving a visit to South America scheduled for early or mid-January next year.
The newspaper reported this, citing a Japanese government official. The newspaper explained that this is because voices demanding that the government and the ruling party focus on responding to issues surrounding political fund-raising parties of the Liberal Democratic Party faction have become stronger. “This issue is starting to have an impact on diplomacy as well,” he added.
Prime Minister Kishida originally planned to depart from Japan on January 9th next year and visit several South American countries, including Brazil and Chile, and has been pushing for adjustments.
Brazil is a representative example of the ‘Global South’, an emerging country that is making its presence known in the international community. It is also the chair of the G20 in 2024. Prime Minister Kishida planned to visit Brazil next month to confirm cooperation progress.
Chile is a country rich in important mineral resources such as copper and lithium. Japan is seeking to strengthen relations.
In particular, the newspaper reported that Prime Minister Kishida was considering a plan to visit Davos, Switzerland, immediately after completing his tour of South America to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF).
However, the Tokyo District Prosecutors’ Office special department is expanding its investigation regarding the issue of the Liberal Democratic Party’s political funds. The Special Department is expected to begin listening to the circumstances (investigation) of lawmakers belonging to the Abe faction in earnest after the extraordinary National Assembly adjourns on the 13th.
The newspaper reported, “The prevailing opinion is that Prime Minister (Kishida) needs to respond domestically for the regular session of the National Assembly, which is expected to be convened in late January (next year) in a situation where the operation of the government cannot be predicted (in the future).”
However, the Japanese government is already in the process of coordinating with the countries where Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to visit. “The suspension of the tour will be a failure of ‘Kishida diplomacy,’ which has been focusing its efforts on strengthening relations with the Global South,” the newspaper pointed out. Prime Minister Kishida is expected to make a final decision on whether to proceed with the trip while keeping an eye on the progress of the investigation and the political situation within the party.
Currently, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office’s special department is looking into allegations of omission or false information in the income and expenditure report regarding the political funds of five factions of the Liberal Democratic Party.
In particular, lawmakers from the party’s largest faction, the Abe faction, are accused of failing to record the excess of political fund-raising ‘party ticket’ sales quotas in the political fund balance report, and taking back the money raised and using it as a slush fund. Party tickets are tickets sold at paid events (parties) to raise political funds.
As the investigation into slush fund suspicions expands, Prime Minister Kishida is reviewing the personnel of his cabinet and party executives. Local media are reporting that Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and others from the Abe faction will be virtually dismissed.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.